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An ageing overhead crane at one of the UK's leading steel manufacturers has been given a new lease of life following a comprehensive electrical modernisation programme.
The work formed part of a wider site refurbishment project and focused on replacing key elements of the crane's ageing electrical system while retaining the main mechanical structure.
Street Cranexpress designed and installed a completely new control system, including a main control panel, hoist control panel, replacement cross travel motor and modern electrical circuitry.
Addressing an Ageing Electrical System
The original electrical equipment had been in service for many years and had undergone numerous modifications during its working life.
As a result, accurate electrical drawings and documentation were no longer available, making fault finding increasingly difficult and adding to the challenges faced by maintenance teams. Ageing components were also beginning to affect the reliability of the crane.
Following a detailed site survey, the Street Cranexpress Projects team developed a new electrical control system tailored to the customer's operational requirements.
The upgrade included a new main control panel and hoist control panel, replacement cross travel motor, modern control circuitry and Schneider Electric variable speed drives and switchgear.
A complete set of updated electrical drawings and documentation was also produced to support future maintenance and fault finding.
Modernising Equipment Dating Back to the 1960s
One of the most demanding parts of the project involved replacing the original cross travel motor, which dated back to the 1960s.
Installing a modern replacement required new mounting arrangements to be designed, followed by precise alignment on site to ensure the crane travelled smoothly and accurately.
The existing hoist motor presented a further challenge because it did not have an encoder or a suitable extension shaft. The motor was removed and modified with a new extension shaft capable of driving an encoder before being reinstalled alongside a Schneider Electric variable speed drive.
The revised arrangement provides accurate speed feedback and improved control of the hoist.
A More Reliable and Maintainable Crane
The project followed a structured process covering site survey, design approval, component procurement, control panel manufacture, factory testing, installation and final commissioning.
Much of the engineering and panel manufacture was completed in-house, allowing Street Cranexpress to maintain control over the technical specification, quality and project schedule.
The new variable speed control provides smoother movement across the crane's different motions, helping to reduce mechanical wear while improving operational performance.
The completed upgrade has resulted in a safer, more reliable and easier-to-maintain electrical system, together with improved documentation for future servicing and fault diagnosis.
Rather than replacing the complete crane, the modernisation has allowed the customer to retain valuable existing equipment while extending its service life with contemporary electrical control technology.
For more information on Extending the Working Life of a Legacy Overhead Crane with a Modern Electrical Upgrade talk to Street Cranexpress Ltd